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What are the risks of not extracting wisdom teeth?

Mar 13, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, "end teeth" refer to wisdom teeth. Not removing wisdom teeth may lead to problems such as malalignment of the teeth, damage to adjacent teeth, oral functional disorders, gingival inflammation, and issues affecting the jawbone and joints. It is recommended to undergo regular dental examinations to promptly identify and address problems related to wisdom teeth. If a wisdom tooth erupts in an improper position or becomes repeatedly inflamed, timely medical attention is advised, and tooth extraction should be considered.

Generally speaking, "end teeth" refer to wisdom teeth. If the wisdom teeth erupt normally and do not affect other teeth, they usually pose no harm and do not require extraction. However, if the wisdom teeth grow abnormally, failure to extract them may lead to various problems such as dental misalignment, damage to adjacent teeth, oral functional disorders, gingival inflammation, and jawbone or joint issues. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Dental Misalignment

Due to limited space in the jawbone, wisdom teeth may not erupt into proper positions, leading to crooked teeth. When wisdom teeth lack sufficient space to grow, they may tilt or become crooked, causing neighboring teeth to shift and resulting in malocclusion, which further affects dental alignment and function.

2. Damage to Adjacent Teeth

If wisdom teeth erupt in improper positions, they may press against adjacent healthy teeth. Prolonged pressure may cause loosening, pain, or even loss of the neighboring teeth. Additionally, mispositioned wisdom teeth may lead to food impaction, increasing the risk of dental caries in adjacent teeth.

3. Oral Functional Disorders

Failure to extract problematic wisdom teeth may impair chewing function, which can further affect normal swallowing. Long-term discomfort may lead to difficulties in chewing, facial pain, and in severe cases, problems such as difficulty eating, unclear speech, and impaired breathing may occur.

4. Gingival Inflammation

Wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth, making them difficult to clean and prone to bacterial accumulation, which can cause gingival inflammation. If a wisdom tooth fails to fully erupt, the surrounding gum tissue may become red, swollen, and ulcerated, leading to pericoronitis.

5. Jawbone and Joint Problems

Failure to extract impacted wisdom teeth may also lead to insufficient space in the jawbone, affecting chewing efficiency. Moreover, recurrent inflammation may impair the function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), resulting in temporomandibular joint disorder, which may manifest as joint pain, impaired jaw movement, headaches, tinnitus, and other symptoms.

It is recommended to undergo regular dental checkups to promptly detect and address issues with wisdom teeth. If wisdom teeth erupt in improper positions or repeatedly become inflamed, timely medical consultation and possible extraction are advised. Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene is important to prevent oral diseases.

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